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Android Malware...Real or.....

Moderator

Sep 23, 2008

87

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Back before I even got the first Android phone I kept hearing how the platform was prone to malware and highly likely to be infected. I am now about 18 months in and on my second device and, knock on wood, I have not seen any kind of infection. Our company switched to Androids and with about 200 all over the country I am not aware of any infections. One or two may have happened I don't know about, but I don't think so.

I saw this article today and it makes me wonder if any of our members have had personal experiences with malware. I suppose the more you look for apps and the like to download and try the greater your risk. I download a few apps here and there, but always from what I consider to be reputable sources and never if there isn't already many others that have downloaded before me.

I also do not download pirated music or movies and I know malware is often buried in that crap.

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Gold

Sep 24, 2007

30

Would have to say Ditto. Have been on Android for a bunch of years now, several phones, used throughout the agency I work for, etc. Have never heard of an infection. Have heard and Android malware in the wild in an occassional news report. Worst thing my phone ever does is TMZ <G>

Gold

Feb 1, 2008

20

I once downloaded icons from the marketplace that is FULL of malware. I had to do a full wipe to fix it. I can give you the app so you can report it if you want but its been a couple years and the icon pack is still up.

Moderator

I once downloaded icons from the marketplace that is FULL of malware. I had to do a full wipe to fix it. I can give you the app so you can report it if you want but its been a couple years and the icon pack is still up.

Tesla Deathray

Click to expand...

Really still there? I thought Google had made an all-out effort to purge all the crap from the Market/Play Store?

Could that have been an item hijacked and infected, but now corrected? It would be disappointing to find out known problems were not dealt with....

Moderator

Moderator

Sep 23, 2008

87

Never mind. Now I found it. Hard to believe, but the biggest complaints seem to be the obtrusive and excessive ads. Guess that could be cionsidered malware. few mentioned their antivirus going nuts too.

Moderator

Never mind. Now I found it. Hard to believe, but the biggest complaints seem to be the obtrusive and excessive ads. Guess that could be cionsidered malware. few mentioned their antivirus going nuts too.

Click to expand...

Some antivirus software's for Android said Gmail was spam/malware....so take those with a grain of salt

Gold

Never mind. Now I found it. Hard to believe, but the biggest complaints seem to be the obtrusive and excessive ads. Guess that could be cionsidered malware. few mentioned their antivirus going nuts too.

Click to expand...

Well that's the thing, once you download the theme you get an icon installed on your phone. As son as you click on that, that's when the proverbial "hits the fan" chimes into play. Malware in my experience is a bunch of ads that hijack your device leaving you to do nothing but have to reset everything. My experience was that the app disabled my internet explorer and replaced it with something else. I got ad after ad after ad all over my phone no matter what i clicked (opening up my app drawer for gods sake loaded me down with ads) etc. My phone started running slow and would automatically try to log me into my mobile banking and i was NOT about to let that happen! The only thing that would get rid of it was a full wipe since i tried everything else, titanium backup as well as antivirus app (i was desperate)

Moderator

Sep 23, 2008

87

Wd, were you an early user of that crapware, errrr, app? Just scanning through a few of the reviews and seeing a 3.2 score is enough to tell me I don't want it.

This is one rerason I can never be considered a cutting-edge user or a leader of the pack. I always wait to see some history. I also make sure I discount reviewers who praise all about an app within a short time as I believe many are the developer and/or their friends trying to get the word out.

Gold

Feb 1, 2008

20

I really do not remember if I was early but I dont think I was. See, Ive never been a reader of reviews mostly because its all relative. If I buy an app that says it unlocks my garage door and it does im sure there are 20 other people out there that it doesnt work for but yes i see your point